Back

Back doctors are medical specialists who are trained to recognize and diagnose a comprehensive range of back and spine conditions and injuries. They have a deep level of knowledge, special training, and insights regarding the back as well as the best way to get to the source of the pain.

The reason for back pain can differ depending on the patient and their situation. Some people experience chronic pain in the back due to arthritis, which is a degenerative disease. Other patients experience aching pain from overuse, such as an employee who continuously lifts heavy items on to shelves each day at work. And then there are people who experience acute pain from an injury or traumatic accident, such as a person who ruptures a disc following a car accident.

During an appointment with a back doctor, a patient typically begins by describing his or her symptoms, pain, or injury. Some back issues may be able to be resolved fairly quickly and without the need for a surgical procedure, while others may involve complex surgery.

Back doctors can offer treatment for any type of back pain; they also have special training and knowledge about the spine or backbone itself. Therefore, a back specialist may also be able to treat a spinal issue and offer treatments such as interventional pain procedures. 

Should You See a Back Doctor?

It may be time to see a doctor if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Chronic back pain
• Lumbar (lower back) pain
• Muscle spasms or weakness
• Numbness
• Pain that radiates into the neck
• Pain when turning the torso
• Problems or difficulty walking 

These problems may indicate that you are dealing with a back injury or spine condition, such as:

• Degenerative disc disease
• Herniated disc
• Pinched nerve
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Spinal deformity
• Spinal disorder related to curvature (kyphosis or lordosis)
• Spinal stenosis (cervical or lumbar)
• Spondylolysis
• Sports-related injury

Specialized Back Care You Can Trust

Our specialty-trained back doctor at Appalachian Orthopedics, Dr. Matthew Lamagna, has a full understanding of the spine's anatomy and is dedicated to delivering an exceptional level of back care. Our doctor will apply his expertise directly to your situation to guide you toward treatments that help reduce pain and restore you to optimal health. Our back specialist always carefully considers nonsurgical options first before recommending surgery. During your exam, he may take X-rays so that he can further study the spinal column and surrounding structures to determine which nonsurgical treatment may be right for you, such as physical therapy or injections. 

Working alongside our nonsurgical back specialist, our licensed physical therapists provide a full and comprehensive set of outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation services. They treat each patient's problem individually through an evaluation to design a specific treatment plan with the overall goal of restoring function and enhancing one's quality of life.

If your back pain is keeping you from living an active life, we're proud to offer access to an orthopedic specialist whenever you need it. Schedule an appointment online or call our Johnson City location for a consultation with our expert back doctor to diagnose and treat your back issue.

For those acute back injuries that can't wait, we also offer the following ways to be seen today: 

• Walk into one of our Orthopedic Urgent Care clinics at our Bristol Regional Medical Center or Johnson City office. No appointment needed.
• To be seen by a doctor on the same day, call your desired office.
• Chat with an orthopedic specialist 24/7, 365 days a year with our free OrthoCareNow service.